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Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Play trailer Poster for Darby O'Gill and the Little People G 1959 1h 35m Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Just-fired Darby O'Gill (Albert Sharpe) does not want to tell his daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), that his position has been taken by a dashing younger man (Sean Connery). Then, on his way home, Darby slips through a portal to the land of the little people. There he meets the leprechaun king, Brian (Jimmy O'Dea), and winds up accidentally bringing the little monarch home with him. Darby then demands Brian grant him three wishes, but the request brings Darby bittersweet, and unexpected, results.
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Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Critics Reviews

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A.H. Weiler New York Times Mar 25, 2006
3.5/5
[An] overpoweringly charming concoction of standard Gaelic tall stories, fantasy and romance. Go to Full Review Time Out Feb 11, 2006
For those of a sentimental turn, there is the delight of watching young Connery romancing the ineffably wholesome Janet Munro, a couple of years before things turned nasty for Commander Bond at Crab Key with the somewhat more knowing Ursula Andress. Go to Full Review Marjorie Baumgarten Austin Chronicle Mar 10, 2003
No one believes a man known for spinning tales full of blarney when he indeed befriends the king of the leprechauns. Go to Full Review Moira Walsh The Catholic World Nov 28, 2023
The picture takes an inordinate amount of time getting started but once underway it displays a flair for the unexpected, the imaginative and the madly logical that all good fairy stories should have. Go to Full Review Dann Gire Chicago Daily Herald Nov 2, 2021
I was 6 when I saw this Walt Disney fantasy at my local theater, and when the cheesy but ghostly Coach of Death descends from the sky, I might have considered wearing diapers even then. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) May 13, 2019
8/10
It's not quite as well-known as it should be but it's really delightful. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Adam N @RT93209334 Mar 17, 2026 A most imaginative film by Walt Disney. Its basis in Irish folklore is charming in the best way possible, and Albert Sharpe and Sean Connery excel in their corresponding roles. The special effects are especially impressive for the era. The soundtrack is wonderful, with all those lovely little quirks you'd expect from 50s Disney. To say nothing of the plot, which is not overly deep nor does it contain any unnecessary side arcs. It's just an all around fun time. "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" is extremely underrated, the best of Disney's live-action films, and arguably one of their best films, period. See more Sofia G @Sofia_tortia Mar 13, 2026 Omg Amazing movie,Even though its 2026,I laughed so hard at this,amazing movie See more Tim M @tgmacman Dec 30, 2025 Though at times meandering, Darby O'Gill and the Little People charms all the same with its decidedly Irish fantastical misadventures. See more Art T @artechno Dec 9, 2025 First of all Sean Connery! looking like a 50s greaser with his flat top and dashingly handsome.... and there's fiddle playing and supernatral horses, and of course the Little People and so much Irish folklore, it qualifies as Irish Studies. Here with the scholarship that went into the fim: Walt Disney conceived the film during a trip to Ireland with the Irish Folklore Commission in 1947.[The Three Wishes of Darby O'Gill, based on Kavanagh's 1903 book Darby O'Gill and the Good People, retaining Watkin as writer. Disney studied Gaelic folklore for three months at the Dublin Library and received input from seanchaithe (traditional storytellers) while developing the film.[7] During casting in London in February 1958, the film's title became Darby O'Gill and the Little People.[8] See more Lauren S @RT95518457 Jul 16, 2025 If I could give this 10 stars I would best classic Disney movie See more Matthew C. @Mcurtis Jul 5, 2025 It’s a bit slow even for the time See more Read all reviews
Darby O'Gill and the Little People

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Stevenson

Director

Albert Sharpe

Darby O'Gill

Janet Munro

Katie O'Gill

Sean Connery

Michael McBride

Jimmy O'Dea

King Brian

Kieron Moore

Pony Sugrue

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Darby O'Gill and the Little People

Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Just-fired Darby O'Gill (Albert Sharpe) does not want to tell his daughter, Katie (Janet Munro), that his position has been taken by a dashing younger man (Sean Connery). Then, on his way home, Darby slips through a portal to the land of the little people. There he meets the leprechaun king, Brian (Jimmy O'Dea), and winds up accidentally bringing the little monarch home with him. Darby then demands Brian grant him three wishes, but the request brings Darby bittersweet, and unexpected, results.
Director
Robert Stevenson
Producer
Walt Disney
Screenwriter
Lawrence Edward Watkin
Production Co
Walt Disney Productions
Rating
G
Genre
Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 26, 1959, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2014
Runtime
1h 35m
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